6 November 2013 FLCAJ | www.flcaj.com

hether you’re all about the budget or the environment, there’s no need to disagree. With the growth in new tech-nologies, energy-saving measures are more likely than ever to pay for themselves and provide a savings over time. Because of the variations within each community, deter-

mining which measures are worth the investment to make a change can be very site-specific. Florida Power and Light (FPL) offers a free Business Energy Evaluation, with other Florida utilities offering similar programs. “On the demand side, our primary focus is to reduce peak demand,

The New Strength: Less Power

WBY KATHYDANFORTH

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levelize the load, and reduce the need for new power plants,” explains Phil Tornelli, Program Manager for Business Energy Evaluations at FPL. “We also want to help people use energy efficiently to get the most out of their energy dollar. We educate them on measures and practices and also offer rebates as part of the FPL conservation effort.” The Department of Energy estimates that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) constitute 45 percent of the electrical energy use in Florida, making it the prime target for potential savings. “Upgrades for energy efficiency are usually only cost-effective when it’s time for replacement or repair costs are getting high,” Tornelli comments. “When you shop for new equipment to qualify for FPL’s incentive program, the efficiency has to be above code, and the percent above code varies with tonnage and technology. Our message is to talk to contractors about what would work best in your application and receive multiple bids.” An energy-recovery ventilation unit is usually cost effective during installation of a new unit, though it may not be a feasible add-on. In cooling season, this feature uses the vented air to begin cooling the fresh intake air. For tall buildings with a cooling tower, a variable speed drive with valve controls in each unit can save over 50 percent in energy use. “It’s a pretty big investment,” says Tornelli, “but it can have a three to five year payback. By investing a little bit more, you can get much higher efficiency.” “Demand control ventilation can typically be added to existing sys-tems and be cost effective,” Tornelli notes. “Building codes require a certain amount of outside air per person, but if there are not as many people in an area at some times, then you don’t need all that warm, moist outside air brought in. This controller senses how many people are present by the carbon dioxide level and opens or closes the damper accordingly. In a clubhouse, you may have 40 people one day and only two the next, so much energy is wasted by bringing in the same amount of air. Each space requires a device,” Tornelli points out, “but a study has shown that this can save 10–25 percent on annual air con-ditioning costs, depending on the variation in occupancy. The sensor itself costs around $300, but if the unit is older and not wired for the installation, the total cost may be up to $2,000 per unit.” Programmable thermostats and override timers can also help match the temperature control to the need. While a programmable thermostat is great for regular schedules, it may not track with meeting rooms that are used inconsistently. “Predicting can end up wasting money,” according to Tornelli. “If you set the thermostat at 80 degrees, then you can use an override timer to lower the temperature when it’s in use, and it will automatically bump back up to the original tempera-ture in a few hours. Timers can also be used effectively for hot tubs, restroom exhaust fans, and some transient use rooms such as laundry and clubhouse rooms.” “Upgrades to windows, roofs, and insulation can cut costs when applicable,” Tornelli adds. “For example, adding insulation can cer-tainly cut down on costs when installed in a low-rise condominium, but it could prove difficult to install in a high-rise building unless you are replacing the roof for other reasons. Landscaping and shade improvements can be helpful and should be considered, but the energy savings are sometimes harder to quantify.” Optimum efficiency can be obtained or regained by maintenance such as changing air filters,

8 November 2013 FLCAJ | www.flcaj.com

“Converting lighting to high-efficiency fluorescent, compact fluorescent, and LED offers significant savings and quick payback,” according to Tornelli. “Condominiums may have several areas that are lit 24 hours per day—in front of ele-vators, the atrium, entrances, and garages—so with 24 hours of run time, reducing the watt-age can have a big effect. Re-placing incandescent lighting with LEDs will have a payback period of three to five years. If fixtures are replaced, it may be more than seven years. But, if fixtures need to be replaced anyway, the small, extra in-vestment to higher efficiency at that point will help on sav-ings for years.” Keeping light fixtures and lenses clean can also stretch the lighting dollars for maximum satisfaction. High-pressure sodium and metal halide lighting provide two efficient outdoor lighting options. “At one time, high-pressure sodium was consid-ered the most efficient choice, and everyone went to that even though the light is yel-low,” Tornelli remarks. “Later, some people decided they wanted white light even at a higher price. You should always try a lighting change in one or two locations for at least a few days to make sure you’re satisfied before converting the whole facility.” Tornelli points out, “Stairwells provide a good opportunity to convert to energy-saving lighting since they’re lit 24 hours a day.” Even if motion sensors are allowed by code, the cost to place them on every fixture may be prohib-itive. Occupancy sensors may be useful for many common area rooms such as laundry

cleaning condenser coils, and keeping shrubs from interfering with air flow around HVAC units. Window film can help block incoming radiation and heating, and incentive payments are available for placing film on west-facing win-dows. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL) recommends a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of less than .45 and a visible light transmittance of more than 50 percent. “For film on windows in com-mon areas, you have to make sure you’re satisfied with the view and color,” Tornelli advises. For window replacement, Tornelli notes, “There’s a rebate for low-e glass, to reduce the heat but allow light to come in.” Infrared light reflectance, heat conductance, and visible light transmis-sion are all part of the equation in window replacement; but coupled with energy savings, hurricane protection, and thus possible insurance savings, window replacement is an investment worth evaluating. Leaking air is leaking money. With caulking and weatherstripping, it’s a relatively simple fix for leaks to the outside. Berkeley Labs esti-mates that 10–20 percent of air in ducts in commercial buildings is lost, requiring more cooling and fan power. While duct tape has many uses, sealing ducts is not its strong point; mastic or aerosol adhesive is recommended to stop the flow.

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rooms, card rooms, meeting rooms, and restrooms. “Twist timers may be cheaper some-times, and they may avoid nuisance on/off issues in some rooms if there are columns or people aren’t in direct sight of the sensor,” Tornelli explains. Pools and irrigation can be a drain on the energy budget. Tornelli recommends high-efficiency motors, but notes, “A variable speed motor doesn’t have the same oppor-tunity for savings because you need certain ongoing flow rates for pool water quality. Geothermal pool heating can be practical in some parts of the state, but a closed loop can be hard to install. The improved efficiency of air-to-air heat pump technology is giving it the biggest per-centage of the market now in central Florida.” Because the payback periods and options vary depending on factors such as the current system, the number of operat-ing hours, space constraints, labor costs, etc., an energy evaluation is recommended

as the first step. “Efficiency experts can help condominiums and HOAs better understand their energy use and recommend energy saving tips and rebates designed to help lower their operating costs,” Tornelli explains. “Even if a community had an audit two years ago, the financial picture may have changed.” The audit can also inform a community if they are a good candidate for saving with less com-monly used technologies, such as an energy management system, heat recovery unit, thermal energy storage system, etc. Tornelli adds, “Also, customers shouldn’t underestimate the value of promoting awareness of energy-saving practices, such as turning off lights when leaving common use areas, avoiding lowering thermostats to 60 degrees when using common spaces, and remembering to turn up thermostats when leaving common use rooms.” “High-efficiency HVAC, efficient lighting, and proper controls will bring about the most change in energy use and cost,” Tornelli states. Though it may take money up front to bring about the desired lower monthly electric bills, penny-pinchers and environmental activists can come together on the worth of considering the energy-saving aspects of their purchases and practices. !

For information on audits and rebate programs:www.fpl.com/business/energy_saving/programs/index.shtmlwww.progress-energy.com/florida/business/save-energy-money/index.page?www.tampaelectric.com/business/saveenergy?www.gulfpower.com/commercial/?WT.svl=nav_bus_homewww.fpuc.com/electric/commercial/

For more information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy e!iciency in the United States, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and E!iciency (DSIRE):www.dsireusa.org. Click on Florida.

Form for sales tax exemption for condominiums (only saves money, not energy):www.fpl.com/business/pdf/tax2.pdf